Home-run derby at Maines Field aids The Chad Foundation

COURTESY THE HALE FAMILYA home-run derby was held Monday at Maines Field in Florence to benefit The Chad Foundation. Run by Northampton senior Mack Hale, the event raised over $1,600 for the nonprofit organization which raises awareness of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Purchase photo reprints »

COURTESY THE HALE FAMILYA home-run derby was held Monday at Maines Field in Florence to benefit The Chad Foundation. Run by Northampton senior Mack Hale, right, the event raised over $1,600 for the nonprofit organization which raises awareness of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Arista Burtrum, left and founder of The Chad Foundation, attended the event. Purchase photo reprints »

The home-run derby to benefit The Chad Foundation, a nonprofit organization which aims to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and students, and promotes a healthy lifestyle, was a success Monday.

Northampton senior Mack Hale raised over $1,600 for the foundation.

“It was a lot of fun,” Hale said. “It was cold when it started but it warmed up nicely. ... The big idea here is to get a cardiac screening here at Northampton High School in March.”

The derby was held at Maines Field in Florence with 35 competitors taking aim at the 10-foot fence, 280-feet from home plate.

Christian and Rowan Hodgson tied for the under-14 age division.

Charlie Ferrera had three homers and 37 points to capture the 14-16 division.

Robbie Logue smacked five homers to win the 17-19 age group.

Jesse Paszko belted 14 homers and won the 20-and-over division. He donated his winnings back to the fundraiser.

Northampton High varsity baseball coach Mark Baldwin and volunteer Ed Hagelstein pitched for five hours during the event.

Arista Burtrum, founder of The Chad Foundation for Athletes and Artists, was on hand for the fundraiser.